We have had an amazing day!! Heading south from Mysore to
visit some farmers we passed through some remote villages, and a huge
assortment of different farm crops. Growing at the moment is sugarcane, corn,
banana’s, turmeric, tomato’s, coconuts, spices of all varieties, potatos, and
so much more. There is so much diversity. Although some towns got a little
tidier, there are a lot of very poor people. We are now sitting on the bus with a 5 hr
drive ahead of us, and its 5pm. I just passed some ladies who sit on the side
of the road breaking up blue metal with a hammer all day to use for road works.
The countryside was pretty dry, as the monsoon season is
soon to begin. Im not quite sure how to describe the villages. We are passing
through one now and there is rubbish EVERYWHERE. But the people are mostly well
presented, and look clean and tidy. All the shops are on the street, with cars
and scooters galore. A lot of the houses are falling down, with roofs covered
with tarpaulins or banana leaves!
The farmers we visited explained that turmeric was their
main profitable crop at the moment. It is used in most Indian dishes and has
very good health benefits. It can also be used as a skin product, by rubbing
the tube on your skin. We were offered coconut water, fresh from the coconuts
of the tree! Very delicious and refreshing! One of the farmers was able to
speak English, so it was great to be able to have good discussion, on the many
crops that he grew. He, as many farmers do, had an electric pump to draw water
from 400 feet to irrigate his crops. Farmers receive free electricity from the
government and there is no limit to the water they can draw (for now).
Rashem explained that the main challenge was education for
the farmers. They had little understanding of their soils and continued to do
what they had always done for years.
We stopped at a school, and were able to enter the
classrooms and converse with the children. They were so happy and excited to
see us, it was beautiful. Stu gave a frisby away and it was fun to play in the
street with them.
We had a packed lunch on the bus, and we are now trying to
find beer for the long trip to the next hotel. It has been so good to travel on
roads that tourists never go, and see the real India. These people have never
seen white people before and are fascinated by our presence. I find it a little uncomfortable at times
given our huge wealth, but they are so welcoming and happy it is ok.
Over and out!
Picture 1 - herbicide and pesticide shop!! very small scale, the one on the far right is gramoxone!
tumeric - grown a lot in the area, and looking good!
the gang enjoying coconuts
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